About Our Lady of the Chesapeake · Pasadena, Maryland
Our Lady of the Chesapeake is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lake Shore community of Pasadena, Maryland, part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Founded in 1980, it is now yoked with neighboring St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Riviera Beach to form the Pastorate of the Visitation — the two Catholic churches of Pasadena. The parish serves its community with daily and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation, youth ministry, outreach, and a livestream of Sunday and weekday Masses on Facebook. Its current leadership team includes Fr. Stephen Hook as Pastor and Fr. John Bilenki as Associate Pastor.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Chesapeake (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of Our Lady of the Chesapeake)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen M. Hook
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Chesapeake offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in the Lake Shore / Pasadena area where parishioners are welcomed into a vibrant pastorate that worships, serves, forms relationships, grows in faith, gives, and proclaims the Gospel. With weekday and weekend Masses (several livestreamed on Facebook), Saturday confessions, First Friday Adoration with Benediction, a Family Faith Formation program, youth ministry, bereavement and homebound ministry, and active outreach (Holy Innocents for families who have suffered miscarriage, Rachel's Vineyard post-abortion healing, and the Archdiocesan abuse-prevention helpline), it is a parish that walks with its members at every stage of life. Worship is supported by dedicated music ministry — piano with cantor or choir at the Sunday Masses — making it an inviting parish home for Catholics in northern Anne Arundel County.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Chesapeake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 pm in the Reconciliation Room
- By appointment at any time
Adoration times
- First Fridays 9:00 am–10:00 am Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet
- First Fridays 3:00 pm Benediction
History of Our Lady of the Chesapeake
The parish traces its origin to 1978, when the Archdiocese of Baltimore sent Fr. Walter J. Paulits as resident priest of the Catholic Community of Lake Shore. In March 1980 the community was formally established as Our Lady of the Chesapeake Parish, with Fr. Paulits as founding pastor. Over the next six years Fr. Paulits and the parishioners built the church, which was dedicated in 1986. Fr. Paulits retired in 1991 but continued to assist the parish; he died in 2011 at age 88 and is remembered as the 'hidden jewel' of the parish.
- 1978 — Fr. Walter J. Paulits arrives as resident priest of the Catholic Community of Lake Shore
- March 1980 — Parish officially established as Our Lady of the Chesapeake
- 1986 — Church building dedicated
- 1991 — Fr. Paulits retires as pastor
- After 1991 — Fr. Brian M. 'Raff' Rafferty becomes pastor (d. Dec. 24, 2021)
- July 1, 2022 — Merged with St. Jane Frances de Chantal to form the Pastorate of the Visitation
- May 31, 2025 — 45th anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori
Pastorate of the Visitation
Since July 1, 2022, Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances de Chantal have shared a single pastoral team under Fr. Stephen M. Hook as Pastor, forming what is known as the Pastorate of the Visitation. The shared pastorate office handles registration, sacramental preparation, faith formation, music, and facilities for both churches. Fr. John Bilenki serves as Associate Pastor, and Deacon Howard Klohr serves both parishes.
- Pastorate name 'Visitation' honors Mary at the Visitation and St. Jane Frances de Chantal, foundress of the Visitation Order
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish founded in 1946; Our Lady of the Chesapeake in 1980
- OLC parish office: 8325 Ventnor Road, Lake Shore, MD 21122 — 410-255-3677
- St. Jane parish office: 8499 Virginia Ave., Riviera Beach, MD 21122 — 410-255-4646
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated at the pastorate level under Marie Griffiths, Director of Family Faith Formation, with Carrie Hilmer serving as Associate Youth Minister. The Confirmation program is offered annually for students in 9th grade through age 17. Adults seeking to become Catholic prepare through the parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and are received at the Easter Vigil.
- Family Faith Formation (Director: Marie Griffiths)
- Youth Ministry (Carrie Hilmer)
- Confirmation program for grades 9–12 / ages 13–17
- RCIA for adults
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled on the first and third Sundays of the month at 12:45 pm (not during Lent) following a Baptismal Preparation Program. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact a priest or deacon at least six months in advance. Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturday afternoons, and Anointing of the Sick is scheduled twice a year and on request.
- Baptism: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 12:45 pm
- Baptism Prep: 1st Monday of each month, 7:30 pm
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00–3:30 pm or by appointment
- Marriage: at least six months' notice; prep classes required
- Anointing of the Sick: Fall and Spring, and on hospital request
- Confirmation: annual program grades 9–12
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry at OLC is led by Robert Henry, Director of Music and Principal Organist for the pastorate. Sunday Masses feature either piano with cantor (8:30 am) or piano with choir (10:45 am). Weekday and Saturday Vigil Masses use piano with cantor. The music program supports the full liturgical year of the parish and the pastorate.
- Director of Music / Principal Organist: Robert Henry
- Sunday 8:30 am — Piano & Cantor
- Sunday 10:45 am — Piano & Choir
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 pm — Piano & Cantor
Outreach and Pastoral Care
The pastorate supports parishioners through homebound visits, a bereavement/grief ministry, and a network of outreach referrals including Holy Innocents (for families who have lost children to miscarriage) and Rachel's Vineyard (post-abortion healing). The parish also publicizes the Archdiocese of Baltimore's abuse-prevention helpline and Safe Environment / Child & Youth Protection policies.
- Bereavement Ministry — first Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm, St. Jane Frances Rectory
- Pastoral Visits / Communion to the Homebound
- Holy Innocents Ministry — spiritual support after miscarriage
- Rachel's Vineyard referral
- Archdiocese of Baltimore Holy Innocents helpline: 410-547-3142 / [email protected]
Parish Staff and Clergy
The pastoral team of the Pastorate of the Visitation serves both Our Lady of the Chesapeake and St. Jane Frances de Chantal parishes. Fr. Stephen M. Hook is the pastor; Fr. John Bilenki is associate pastor; Deacon Howard Klohr assists in both parishes. Lay staff include a Director of Family Faith Formation, Associate Youth Minister, Director of Music, Office Manager, Parish Secretary, Director of Pastorate Operations, and Facilities Manager.
- Rev. Stephen M. Hook — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. John Bilenki — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Howard Klohr — Permanent Deacon ([email protected])
- Marie Griffiths — Director of Family Faith Formation
- Carrie Hilmer — Associate Youth Minister
- Robert Henry — Director of Music / Principal Organist
- Mike Downes — Director of Pastorate Operations
- Gina Bujanowski — Office Manager / Baptism Prep
- Tracey Laber — Parish Secretary
- Don Summers — Facilities Manager
Visiting and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at the OLC parish office, 8325 Ventnor Road, Lake Shore, MD 21122, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (closed Friday). Masses are livestreamed on the parish Facebook page each Sunday and on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. The pastorate also maintains a shared website at catholicpasadena.org that links to both parish sites.
- Address: 8325 Ventnor Road, Pasadena (Lake Shore), MD 21122
- Phone: (410) 255-3677
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.olchesapeake.org/
- Pastorate site: https://catholicpasadena.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofthechesapeake/
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–2:00 pm; Fri closed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Walter J. Paulits1980–1991
Founding pastor. Served as resident priest of the Catholic Community of Lake Shore from September 1978 before the parish was officially established in 1980. Led the six-year effort to build the church (dedicated 1986). Ordained Feb. 12, 1972. Retired 1991; remained active in parish life. Died June 4, 2011, age 88.
- Rev. Brian M. 'Raff' Raffertyafter 1991–c. 2022
Succeeded Fr. Paulits as pastor. Long-serving, beloved pastor of the parish. Died December 24, 2021.
- Rev. Stephen M. Hook2022–present
First pastor of the Pastorate of the Visitation formed July 1, 2022, yoking Our Lady of the Chesapeake with St. Jane Frances de Chantal.